Month: August 2017

It’s the early hours of a new day but I sense the urgent need to write. I pray these words only cause you to look and examine in scripture for yourself.

The headline I just read as I was checking my email was about the most liked tweet ever on twitter. This tweet was by Barack Obama in his response to Charlottesville where he quotes a portion of Nelson Mandela “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion,” Mandela’s full quote finishes “people must learn to hate, and if people can learn to hate, people can be taught to love.”

Before I go further I must say first the Christ follower must fully condemn white supremacy. This is not a time to be silent. I love Beth Moore’s words on this one “We cannot renounce what we will not name. It’s called white supremacy. And it is from hell. Call it. Condemn it.” See Tim Keller’s article here for further explanation. That is not my reason for writing tonight but I see the need to say that upfront. I also need to say this is in no way a post to bash Obama in any way or to bring up political debate.

I want to simply state why the quote contradicts God’s Word that was referenced in the most liked tweet. Mandela’s quote says that we are taught to hate that no one is born hating. However listen to what God’s word says:

There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. ALL have turned away, they have become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3: 10-18).

We are all born sinners. Worse than being born hating people for skin color we are born in complete opposition to God. We have all turned. We have all strayed. We all fall short of the glory of God. And in this we all are born sinners that hurt one another and oppose one another. Yes. Every single one of us. We don’t earn our sin scars we are born with them. We are born seeking pleasure for self and self alone. We each deserve the full wrath of God for our own hate against God. That’s what sin is. It’s full rebellion and opposition to God. We are born enemies of God.

But God….

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him. For if while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:6-11

We have to first see that we are all born haters. We are born haters of God himself whether you realize it or not. We are born in full separation of God since the fall of man(Genesis 3). And since the fall we have all personally rebelled against God. This opposition of God we are born into crosses all races, genders, cultures, and families making us all born separated from God who alone is righteous and good.

Then it becomes clearer I can’t be taught to love. Because we are born enemies of God we cannot be taught to love. Now you can be taught to obey rules and laws but one can not be taught to love. We have to be changed by love himself to actually be able to love.

You ever wonder how much God hates sin? Look at the cross. You ever wonder how much God loves you? Look at the cross.

Jesus he has redeemed our rebellious, hateful hearts receiving the full punishment for our sin drinking the cup of the wrath of God that we each deserve. There’s a catch though. To have a Savior you have to see your need to be saved. A Savior saves from something. There’s this seeing your need to open the gift first. We have to see and confess our sin against God seeing our own deep need for Christ. Jesus himself is our peace with God. He has paid the penalty. In Christ justice has been served. It’s all about Christ and without him there is no life.

At the end of the year a new thing is to reflect back on the “Best 9” moments. The Best 9 moments are measured by the number of likes on an Instagram post. I think this is fun to do, to reflect and look back on. At the end of last year I found myself reflecting and looking back on the year I had just had. Not at the photos that had a lot of likes but looking back and remembering: Did I share the gospel with words faithfully? Did I love my husband and children well? Did I serve my brothers and sisters? Did I teach and equip people with the Word of God? Did I give sacrificially of my resources and my time? Did I reach out to internationals? All of these questions I’m convicted on.

Your Best 9 moments can not and should not all be seen on a social media news feed. Scripture teaches that we are not to pronounce all over when we give and serve. Listen to Jesus’ words: “When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:2-4)

Do the best 9 moments of your year so far have you at the center or God at the center? Are your best moments that trip to the beach? That anniversary trip? The Disney world trip? etc. Now one or two of your best memories or moments might pop up. Thats ok but one thing to ask is how is God at the center of each of those 9 moments that look the best to others in your life? How are you reflecting his character and putting the spotlight on God? It is not the things or the experiences that measure our days it’s the fruit. Fruit only comes by abiding in Christ and walking in obedience to him alone.

I share this to encourage and spur on in August because the year isn’t over. I am preaching to myself too y’all. Can you think of 9 people that you have talked with about Jesus that are not your close friends? Have you shared the gospel one time this year yet with words? Are you taking in God’s Word daily to know and experience more of him? Ann Voskamps words come to mind “Every day you can do one thing you wish you could do for everyone. We will be known for our actual fruits not the intentions of our imaginations.”

You don’t need a t-shirt to put on to produce fruit you just need the armor God gives you DAILY. God’s grace for today is always greater than your yesterday failures. Walk in God’s grace. His mercies are new every morning. Each day is a gift to pour out all you have been given trusting that God is going to fill you tomorrow. He always does. Anything good we have to pour out only comes from God. We can’t do anything good apart from Christ (John 15).

Take a moment to reflect on your year so far. Number your days friends. Scripture teaches us this. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”(Psalm 90:12). Know friends God’s grace is greater than our failures always. I fail daily and I only see my need for Jesus more. I find such rest in his faithfulness. Don’t miss out on the joy in the obedience in walking with Jesus.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot